New DCFS Guidelines Set For 2020: Aftercare, Checklist, Referrals

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — New guidelines have been set for the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services in 2020 regarding the return of a child to their parent or guardian, thanks to a new law. The reforms for DCFS in the law passed as HB 1551 include a minimum of six months of aftercare services provided by DCFS to each child starting the day each of them is returned home, according to updates on the Illinois General Assembly website.

The new law takes effect Jan. 1, nearly a month after a DCFS employee and his supervisor who were tasked with investigating reports of abuse and unsanitary living conditions in the home of 5-year-old AJ Freund prior to his death in April are no longer working for the state, a DCFS spokesman told media outlets earlier this month. Carlos Acosta, the DCFS investigator, and Andrew Polovin, his supervisor, are no longer employed by DCFS following a lengthy internal investigation, reports indicated. After news of the boy's death made its way across the county and country, community members united to form the local ROAR for AJ group, created for those committed to actively pushing for a change in the judicial system's handling of DCFS procedures.

The new guidelines also include the completion of a checklist by DCFS officials within 24 hours before a child returns home, in addition to another checklist being completed within five days of their return home, and once every month until the case is closed.

>> 25 New Illinois Laws in 2020 That Could Change Your Life

DCFS officials must also accept any child abuse allegations as a referral if the allegations are made by an authorized person via telephone hotline.

Related:

• Crystal Lake Community Pushes For Justice After 2019 Tragedies
• DCFS Workers In AJ Freund Case Expected To Be Fired
• AJ 's DCFS Investigator Placed On Leave: Reports
• AJ Freund's Death Due To 'Reckless' DCFS Duo: Lawsuit
• Police Release Initial Report in AJ Freund Case
• AJ Freund Died Three Days Before He Was Reported Missing: Report
• Groups Petition For Changes To DCFS Following AJ Freund's Death

When a person who is legally required to report child abuse allegations uses a statewide toll-free telephone hotline to report allegations involving any member of the household, and there is a previous abuse or neglect report (or open service case), the department is required to accept it as a referral.

According to ilga.gov, child welfare services referral means "an assessment of the family for service needs and linkage to available local community resources for the purpose of preventing or remedying or assisting in the solution of problems which may result in the neglect, abuse, exploitation, or delinquency of children, and as further defined in Department rules and procedures.

>> More details on these guidelines via ilga.gov